Heel



Oct. l, 1940 HEEL- Filed June 21, 1939 Patented Oct. l, 1940 UNITED STATES rPAMTEIT OFFICE 1 Claim.

for a longer time than the permanent heels which are at the present time attached to jshoes.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an adapter for holding interchangeably and removably a heel to a shoe.

Another object of the invention is to provide an adapter which'will adapt the shoeto receive a reversible or interchangeable heel member.

Another object of the invention is to provide a locking stud which will hold the heel member attached to the shoe and retain the same in a secure manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which is eiicient in use, practical in construction, simple, durable, and economical to l manufacture in quantity production.

Other features and objects may become' apparf ent by reference to the accompanying drawing and the ensuing description wherein like symbols are used to designate like parts and in which:

Fig. 1 isa front plan view my invention is attached.

Fig. 2 is a top view looking in the direction 2 2 of Figure 1.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view on the line 3 3 of Figure 2. f

Fig. 4 is a staggered longitudinal cross-sectional view of the line 4 4 of Figure 2.

Fig. 5 is an isometric view showing the locking portion of the member generally designated by the numeral 8, and is a fragmentary portion thereof showing particularly the locking recesses.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the retaining member for attaching adapter member.

It is generally known that heels of shoes are usually worn down on one side, and thus tend to show a heel, having an irregular surface on the bottom which is rather a common situation eX- perienced by people Wearing shoes.

Of course, when the heels are worn down, they of a shoe to which vand vby the numeral 9.

`mera] 8 is secured to the 'of the shoe designated I6 theheel member to the detract from the general appearance of the shoe, and it is a condition that either calls for replacement of new heel members, or some other means of rectifying this undesirable condition.

I provide a remedy for such a situation, and the heel member which comprises my invention which will be hereinafter described, obviates the difficulties and objections encountered from wearing down heels on the one side, and is a decided improvement over the conditions attendant upon circumstances whereheels are Worn down or misshaped thru wear.

By referring to Figure 1, vit can be seen that the numeral l generally which is attached another member of my invention namely the heel member designated by the numeral 9.

The heel member may be made of rubber or other resilient material or of leather, if itshould be so desired.

' The adapter member may be made of metal or other suitable material which will best serve the semi-circular portion designated by the numeral I0.

'I'he member 8 is dished out or recessed, and is provided with outer ledges as designated by the numeral I2, thus providing a recess which is adapted to receive the heel member designated The adapter vmember designated by the nurear portion of the sole by a number of grommets designated by the numeral 20. The sole of the shoe is recessed, or has holes designated by t the body of the of the shoe is further counter-bored with the receive the head of the grommet when the same is spun over in assembly in order to hold the adapter member `securely attached to the sole portion designated I6.

, Any solid or substantial material may Yportion designated by the numeral II, and a recesses I9 in order to 50 It will be noticed that the adapter member is provided with a series of indentations designated by the numeral I8 provided with recesses 29 to receive the opposite head of the grommet designated by the numeral 2G, and thus present a ush lower surface which will not interfere with the surface of the heel and permit the top surface of the heel to contact the surface of the adapter member in an even and flush` manner.

Approximately at the central portion, the adapter member designated by the numeral 8 is dished out or countersunk as indicated by the numeral I3, in which form or recess there is provided an oval shaped slot designated by the numeral I4, and two formed recesses designated by the numeral I5 as indicated in Figure 5. The purpose of this structure will be, hereinafter,

more fully described.

The heel member is made of a contour substantially the size and shape of the inner recess of the adapter member and is conned between the ledges, I2 of the adapter member designated by .the numeral 8. The heel member is pressed into assembly, and is provided on its top and bottom portions ywith a counter-bored or counter-sunk section, hole, or recess designated by the numeral 25. This recess is to fit the` contour of the head of the binding member or retaining member designated by the numeral 2I.

The two counter-bored recesses designated by the numeral 26 are inter-connected by an oval shaped slot indicated by the numeral 21, and it can be seen that in Figure 3 the slot is slightly larger than the locking portion 24 of the binding member 2|.

In Figure 4, I show the slot 21 wide enough to permit the body 23 of the binding member 2I to pass freely therethru.

l' The binding member ZI is provided with a head similar to that of a flat head screw, and is adapted to fit the recessed portion 26 in the heel member, being also provided with a slotted portion designated b-y the numeral 22, which enables one to lock this member in place thus retaining the heel securely in assembly. The head portion 24 is provided with a locking portion 24, having two facets designated 25 meeting at an angle, and a straight ledge below, which abuts the portions I5 of the `adapter member designated by the numeral 8.

` When the heel member 9 is worn and requires replacement, a screw driver or other similar instrument may be inserted into the slot 22, and by rotating the binding member 22 a quarter turn or 90 brings the head 24 into alignment with the oval slot I4, thus permitting its removal and incidentally the removal of the heel member confined within the recessed portion of lthe adapter member designated by the numeral 8.

In attaching heels to the shoe, the operation is reversed, the screw is inserted so that the head vportion 24 is in alignment with the slotted portion I4. The heel member is then pressed inwardly and, preferably, being made of a resilient material it can be slightly compressed. When the head portion 24 is rotated thru one quarter turn or 90 and then allowed to settle Within the confines of the recesses I5 the heel is firmly retained in place.

Now, when the heel is Worn down on one of its edges, say the right side of the shoe, the heel of the right shoe and the left shoe may be interchanged until the opposite edges are evenly worn with the rst Worn edges, and after that, the heels may also be reversed. Since the heel is made symmetrically on both top and bottom surfaces, it may be reversed and present a practically newv Wearing surface.

The heels as made and used in accordance with my invention, thus last considerably longer, are more serviceable, more useful, present a neat appearance always, and can be readily removed, interchanged, and attached by the average shoe wearer without it being necessary to take the shoes to a cobbler, shoe-maker, or other person engaged in that type of business.

I believe I have described in succinct terms the nature `and advantages of my invention, so that those familiar with the art will have no difficulty in understanding my invention. Inasmuch as, I feel that my invention is susceptible of many modifications, alterations, yand impovements, I reserve the right to all such alterations, modifications, and' improvements, which come within the scope, and spirit of my invention; it being limited only by the prior art and the subjoined claim.

Having thus described and revealed my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a shoe, a removable heel structure comprising, a heel adapter member of a shape configurative with that of a heel member, said adapter member rigidly secured to the said shoe and provided with a flanged portion adapted to receive one surface and to encompass a portion of the sides of the said heel member, the said adapter member also provided with a centrally located counter-sunk portion and a number of drilled and counter-sunk grommet securing portions, and

further provided with a recessed portion having l an elongated opening and indented locking portions straddling the narrower dimensions of said elongated opening, a heel member made of resilient material provided with counter-sunk portions on its upper and lower surfaces, the said `interconnected by an counter-sunk portions opening elongated in cross-section, al locking member provided-with a slotted flat-head portion, a tapered body portion emanating therefrom and terminating in an elongated locking l. portion of a Width approximately equivalent to the cross-sectional dimensions of the smaller end of the tapered body of the said locking member, the said locking member being of suitable length adapted to straddle and engage the indented portion of the said 'adapter member, and grommet means adapted to secure the said adapter member to the said shoe.

CARL R. N. BRUDSIG. 

